Renee Zellweger talks about D’Onofrio

[Observer2]

Well, Star Jones did not disappoint me -- she brought up Renee Zellweger’s Academy Awards speech. But D’Onofrio’s response surprised me. Yeah, I expect him to downplay the importance of his influence on Zellweger; but it seemed as though he really didn’t know what Zellweger was referring to, beyond the general experience of working with him on the movie and dealing with the in-depth role. Of course, he’s a good actor so maybe that was his way of downplaying it. But I wonder if he really doesn’t know how much he taught her, and how clearly she remembers it.

Zellweger wasn’t just talking about the experience of being in a major role. She has mentioned before that D’Onofrio taught her a lot. I remember one instance specifically, that was in a TV interview with someone who mentioned her role in The Whole Wide World but did not mention D’Onofrio. Zellweger immediately started talking about D’Onofrio and how much he taught her. I remember part of it, and I think I've seen something in print, but...

....I needed to go use my most valuable research tool....

(Well, the internet is sort of like a vast, virtual library.... and the way to check things out in it – sort of like using a library card to check out books – is to Google. Right? Okay. That was a stretch, I admit...)

Got it. It’s a transcript of the interview I saw on the TV. (Search words: Zellweger, D’Onofrio, taught)
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at www.efanguide.com

ARTICLES - INSIDE THE ACTOR'S STUDIO - 2003

[it’s well down the page in the interview transcript]

James: How do you conduct yourself on the set? Are you gregarious on the set? Are you private?

Renee: Vince D’Onofrio, um, when we did The Whole Wide World…I think he’s a fantastic actor, and he taught me, um, a lesson that I’ll never forget, actually. He said, “don’t you know how much easier it is to get there and stay there, than to start all over again every time you go to do the scene?” So, that stayed with me. He’s so right. That you go to work, and you reach a certain level, um, in the scene, in terms of your concentration, and then maintain it. Stay there, because you can go so much further, than starting all over again, and wasting time getting back to that place.
____________________________

I browsed through the rest of the results I got on that search, and found another reference I remember having read before, at www.seattleweekly.com, in an article about Dan Ireland that says:

“...In Ireland's reunion interview with Zellweger on the new DVD of The Whole Wide World... ...she explains that it was World that convinced Cameron Crowe she could play a grown-up (as she did in Crowe's subsequent Jerry Maguire), and D'Onofrio who taught her to act.”

(If anyone has a DVD player and the DVD, I’d love to have the exact quote.)

I don’t get to many movies, so I haven’t seen Cold Mountain yet. But I’ve seen clips. In the scenes with Zellweger and Nicole Kidman, I’ve been reminded a bit of some of D’Onofrio’s movies, where what I experience is watching what appears to be a real person surrounded by actors of various levels of skill. In the clips, Zellweger gives that impression. There’s a real mountain, and a real log, and a real woman, and then there’s Kidman portraying another woman. With Zellweger I don’t see the outer shell, the layer of fiction. She has stepped into that experience and that’s all I see. She seems to credit D’Onofrio with teaching her how to take it that deep – and since it echoes his style so strongly, I expect she’s telling the simple truth.

[Metella]

I didn't see it; but from the words you have shared, I would say this time Mr. D'Onofrio was NOT dissembling but that a small sharing of his view on technique could very easily have been words of gold for a newbie learning the ropes & just conversation for him.

Now, I do think that he dissembles plenty in other situations, just that this seems plausible for him to be unaware of how much he influenced her methods and also a bit embarrased that such small words from him are being treated like this.

[Rose]

I haven't seen Cold Mountain so I can't comment as to that film but in general, TWWW is actually the only film in which Ms Zellweger blew me away... something happened to her performances in the last few years, to me she just doesn't have the snap and intensity that she used to. On the other hand, I think Nicole Kidman is the best major female film actress around right now...she has proven herself to have great range and to be meticulous down to the last detail in capturing a character. If she wasn't all that great in CM maybe it wasn't a good role for her? I'll have to rent it when it comes out and compare.

[Rose]

Observer, I think Vincent knew what Renee was referring to...I think he felt it wouldn't be a good idea to sit say "Yeah, Star, I gave her great advice and helped make her what she is today, wackadoo for me!" ;D Though of course I don't think you're implying he should have said that.

I don't think it's an indication of lack of forthrightness to be modest, and shift the focus away from oneself, when asked about one's influence on an actress who just won an Oscar. Anything more than what he said could have come off as self-aggrandizing.

I'm sure he knew what Renee meant because she said it in her interview on the DVD of TWWW and I'd also bet a penny and a nickel that he heard about what she said on Inside the Actor's Studio.

[Metella]

I got to look at a fuzzy copy online;

Now that I have seen it, I agree with Rose. I think he knew they would be bringing it up - I think they often give the main topics out before hand so that the convos can flow - makes for good tv.

At any rate, there was no frown of remembering on his face as they brought it up (his facial expression was similar to the TVGuide award & that he knew about) and his answer was one indeed as Rose indicates - if he grabbed the glory from someone else (which is so not his style) he would have come off a bit as riding on her coattails. He fielded the question with grace.

I'm only disappointed that I did not get to see any of his fashion style - I am most amused when I see him dressing himself; our styles are so different & he wears things I sooo make sport of in my friends & such for doing that it usually amuses me to see what this man strolls down in the street in on his own time.

Now we can look forward to Thumbsucker's release.

[Rose]

Oh Gawd....I said "major female film actress"! ;D

I was going to say "the best major female film star" then realized I'd be damning her with faint praise by saying that. When I deleted star I didn't delete female.

Metella I didn't know that V. already knew about the TV Guide award. He did get a look of surprise on his face when he was being told he was being given an award on the set...did he know he was getting the award on the set or did he just know he won?

[Metella]

It is my assumption only on the TV Guide statement because:
1) on many of the other awards given out that night, they let it be known that there was a "set up" of the scene and the recipient knew.
2) D'Onofrio didn't look surprised (to me)
3) the scene seemed very "set up" to me & how is D'Onofrio not going to know a camera is running right in front of him when he is not in the "act of shooting a scene" (speaking of the quote: get out of my chair - right in front of the recording camera)
4) D'Onofrio didn't ask any who/what/why/how etc questions
5) I have watched all the interviews with him I could have and have a general, vauge very ballpark, totally not inside scoop, outside looking in (put them all here) knowledge of his character. I'm not a great judge of character, but not a totally bad one either.

So, only if those assumptions are correct then it would hold for the view stuff.

Looks like a lot of assumptions, eh?
But, since my assumptions are leading to the same conclusion as yours, that means two convergent paths to the same conclusion - we must be correct.

[Lilee]

Metella said:

that a small sharing of his view on technique could very easily have been words of gold for a newbie learning the ropes & just conversation for him.

I saw the Actors' Studio interview and agree. He didn't sit her down and grace her with his words of wisdom, he simply shared what he'd learned in his humble, casual way. She had to do some fast catching-up for filming TWWW, while he'd been researching and rehearsing for almost a year with D'Abo. So I get the impression that his words helped Z. immensely in this particular role.